Grants

The American Indian Scholars program is a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for members of a federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution.

Award Amount: Varies

This program covers tuition and certain fees for eligible students.

How to Qualify

• Be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program
• Not have already obtained a bachelor’s degree
• Have fewer than 180 credits attended at the college-level
• Be either a:
  • Minnesota resident who qualifies for resident tuition and an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation
  • Student who does not qualify for resident tuition but is an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation
• Complete the American Indian Scholars program application

The Federal Pell Grant program is a program for undergraduate students who have financial need.

Award Amount: Up to $6,895

The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $6,895 for the 2022-2023 award year. You will receive less money if you are enrolled less than full-time.

Award amounts can change yearly and are determined by Congressional appropriations.

You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

This grant is renewable each year. However, you can only receive the Federal Pell Grant for a total of 12 full-time semesters (or equivalent). If you are getting close to this limit, you’ll receive a notice.

How to Qualify

• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Have financial need
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Federal Pell Grant processor will let you know if you are eligible by sending a “Student Aid Report” (SAR) after you file your FAFSA.

If you could qualify for other types of financial aid, this will not affect your Federal Pell Grant.
Courses added after the Pell Recalculation Date (the first date financial aid disburses each semester) are not able to be included in Pell Grant payment calculations. This could include, but is not limited to course additions such as:

• workshops
• independent study
• internships
• student teaching
• any registration overrides (blue cards).

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a program for undergraduate students who have financial need.

WSU receives a certain amount of SEOG funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Once all the funds have been awarded to students, no more SEOG awards can be made that year.

To have the best chance at a SEOG grant, file your FAFSA as soon as possible starting Oct. 1.

Award Amount: Varies

This is different from the Federal Pell Grant program, which provides funds to every eligible student. Learn more about the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program.

How to Qualify

• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Have financial need
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The WSU Financial Aid Office awards SEOG grants based on the FAFSA information and funds available. Priority is given to students with exceptional financial need who have Federal Pell Grants.

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program helps make college education more affordable for students who plan to be teachers.

The TEACH grant is available for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students.

Award Amount: Up to $4,000

This grant is renewable each year.

How to Qualify

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post baccalaureate, or graduate student at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant Program
• Be enrolled in a TEACH Grant eligible program
• Meet academic achievement requirements, which are usually scores above the 75th percentile on the ACT or keeping at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA
• Receive TEACH Grant counseling each year that explains the terms and conditions of the TEACH Grant service obligation
• Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. This means you agree to teach in a high-need field at a school that serves low-income families (among other requirements)

Your TEACH Grant could become a Student Loan

Let’s say that you change your major after getting a TEACH Grant–either to a teaching subject that isn’t high-need or a totally new major.

Or perhaps you don’t take a teaching job at a low-income school. Maybe you don’t pursue a teaching career at all.

These decisions would make it so that you are unable to fulfill your service obligation. If you don’t follow through on this obligation, your TEACH Grant funds all will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan

You will have to repay this loan with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.

The Minnesota Student Teacher Grants program supports students who intend to be teachers and are required to have at least 12 weeks of student teaching experience.

The Minnesota Student Teacher Grants are available to undergraduate and graduate students.

Award Amount: Up to $7,500

On a funds available basis, selected students may receive awards of up to $7,500 for one term.

How to Qualify

• Be enrolled in an eligible Minnesota college or university in an eligible teacher preparation program that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching
• Be meeting satisfactory academic progress
• Demonstrate financial need
• Meet one or more of the following requirements:
  • Intend to teach in a designated rural school district in Minnesota
  • Intend to teach in an identified license shortage area
  • Belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce

You must submit a complete application to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for the term in which you are completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience.

Through the Minnesota Dream Act, undocumented students enrolled at public college and universities can receive:

• in-state tuition rates
• institutional financial aid
• state financial aid

The Minnesota Dream Act benefits are available to undergraduate and graduate students, though you must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Award Amount: Varies

To apply, you’ll need to submit an online grant application and provide required documentation.

How to Qualify

• Have attended a Minnesota high school for at least 3 years
• Have graduated from a Minnesota high school or earned a GED in Minnesota
• Be registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if you are a male between 18 to 25 years old

If a federal process exists for a student to apply for lawful immigration status, students would have to provide that application documentation.

As there is currently not a federal process in place, this documentation is not currently required. Applying for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is not considered a federal process in this case.

The Minnesota State Grant is a program for undergraduate students who have financial need.

Award Amount: Varies

The award amount is calculated based on how many credits you are enrolled in. If you are taking at least 15 credits, you would receive the full amount.

If you were awarded State Grant, your award letter will contain a chart that shows what your State Grant amount will be based on each level of enrollment.

How to Qualify

• Be a Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
• Have financial need
• Have a complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid on file with WSU within 30 days after the term begins
• Be an undergraduate student working toward your first baccalaureate degree
• Be enrolled in at least three credits
• Have been in college for fewer than eight full-time semesters (or the equivalent). You can have nine semesters if you have withdrawn from active military service or have had a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after Dec. 31, 2002.
• Must not be in default on a student loan
• Must not be more than 30 days behind for child support owed to a public agency

The Postsecondary Child Care Grant Program helps low-income students who have young children pay for child care while the student attends classes.

This grant is available to students who are pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and professional degrees.

Award Amount: Up to $5,200 for each eligible child per academic year

This grant covers up to 40 hours of child care per week for each eligible child. The amount of child care assistance depends on:

• The number of people in the student’s household
• The number of day care hours necessary to cover education and work obligations
• Income of the applicant and spouse
• The availability of funding
• The student’s enrollment status

How to Qualify

• Be Minnesota resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• Have been in college for fewer than eight full-time semesters (or the equivalent). You can have nine semesters if you have withdrawn from active military service or have had a major medical illness while under the care of a physician after Dec. 31, 2002.
• Not have defaulted on a student loan
• Have a child 12 years old or younger (or 14 or younger if the child is handicapped)
• Have a family size and income to qualify for the program
• Must not be receiving assistance from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). If you use MFIP, contact your County Social Office of Higher Education for information about child care assistance.

There are different enrollment criteria depending on what type of degree you are pursuing:

• Undergraduate program: be enrolled for 6-15 credits per term
• Graduate program: be enrolled for 1-6 credits per term

The Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship Pilot Program supports students who have financial need and belong to underrepresented racial or ethnic groups as they prepare to become teachers.

Award Amount: Up to $10,000

The annual award for full-time students is up to $10,000. Awards for students enrolled less than full-time are prorated on a per-credit basis.

For undergraduate students, full-time means enrollment in at least 15 credits per term. For graduate students, full-time means enrollment in at least 6 graduate credits or equivalent.

Students may receive up to $25,000 in a lifetime.

How to Qualify

• Be enrolled at an eligible institution located in Minnesota in either:
  • Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved teacher preparation program seeking initial licensure
  • Two-year program specifically designed to prepare early childhood educators
• Be a person of color or American Indian
• Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MN Dream Act application for aid year
• Demonstrate financial need

How to Apply

Complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application, then complete the Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color application (PDF).

The priority deadline is June 17, 2022.

Students should contact the WSU Financial Aid Office to submit the College or University Section of the application.

The Minnesota Future Together Grant program provides free tuition to students who are pursing high-need careers as they earn a certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree.

Award Amount: Varies

The grants are available through 2024 or until all funds are dispensed, whichever comes first. Any changes in your enrollment, FAFSA, or other financial aid may change the amount you receive each semester.

How to Qualify

If you are eligible, the WSU Financial Aid Office will contact you. If you believe you are eligible but are not contacted, please complete the application for the program.

Student eligibility for the grant will be determined every semester. You will need to fill out the FAFSA each year. A student who receives a grant one semester is not guaranteed to receive funding for the next semester.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Be a Minnesota resident
• Be enrolled at an eligible institution located in Minnesota pursuing a program that leads to a career in a high-need area
  • Healthcare: such as nursing, social workers, mental health counselors, and medical and dental assistants
  • STEM: such as software developers, software analysts, engineers, web developers, and statisticians
  • Business: such as accounting, financial management, auditors, human resource managers, bankers, and project managers
  • Education: such as early childhood educators, childcare workers, school counselors, and social workers
  • Public service: such as law enforcement officers, probation officers, and public administration
• Have first enrolled during the 2021-22 or 2022-23 school year; or you are returning to college and have not been enrolled at any college in the last three semesters
• Meet income eligibility criteria
  • Have a Family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of less than $50,000 as reported on FAFSA or MN Dream Act Application
  • Have a Family AGI of less than $100,000 as reported on FAFSA or State Aid Application and have worked in a critical industry listed in Executive Order 20-74 at least part-time between March 1, 2020 -Dec. 31, 2021
  • Received unemployment benefits between March 1, 2020 -Dec. 31, 2021
• Meet all standard eligibility requirements for Minnesota Office of Higher Education programs including, but not limited to:
  • Not in default on a state or federal student loan
  • Not on a SAP/FA suspension
  • Not have already earned a baccalaureate degree